Last Updated on September 16, 2024

Doing what’s right for you

Doing the right thing is easy.

As long as everyone around you is doing it!

What’s hard is doing the right thing when everyone around you is doing something harmful.

I failed

When I was in middle school, I was once thrust into a situation like this.

Some friends of mine were doing something very harmful indeed.

And I didn’t know what to do.

It all happened so fast.

I froze.

And then I felt terrible for years.

I didn’t stop it.

I didn’t speak up.

This is probably why as an adult, I speak out when I see something wrong.

Sometimes in ways that annoy people around me!

For instance, I’m against funding the killing of children in foreign lands.

Call me crazy, but I just think that’s not a good thing to do.

And so I speak up about it, even though it upsets people.

Doing your weird thing

If you have a different nervous system, what everyone else is doing probably isn’t going to be a good fit for you.

It’s easy to do what works best for you if everyone else is doing the same thing.

What’s not so easy is doing what’s best for you when nobody else is doing it.

To do your weird thing, you need courage.

In fact, it’s the same kind of courage as speaking out about harm in the world.

Doing what everyone else is doing would harm you.

But what is “courage” anyway?

It’s a noun, but not something you can put into a wheelbarrow.

So really it’s an adverb, “courageously.”

Courage isn’t something you lack.

It’s a way you decide to do things.

It’s deciding to do what you believe in your heart to be right, even if it makes other people feel uncomfortable because you’re doing something different.

Something that doesn’t hurt anybody.

In fact, just going along with the crowd does hurt somebody.

You!

And you are a being worthy of care and kindness.

What if different was good actually?

What if you doing your unique thing inspired others to do what was best for them?

And what if developing the courage to do your unique thing was also developing the courage to speak up for making the world a better place for all?

Something for you to contemplate this week.

Take care,

 

 

 

~Duff
(they/them)